Category Archives: Children’s Mental Health

Lisa Lambert of the Parent-Professional Advocacy League (a long-time HCFA partner and fellow member of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign Executive Committee) posted a blog over the weekend reminding us of the importance of direct advocacy to make change. Lisa … Continue reading →

On June 27, the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse held an Oversight Hearing on parity implementation and the causes for “boarding” mental health patients in the emergency rooms of local hospitals. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign (CHMC) … Continue reading →

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 1-7, 2011) is an opportune time to take stock of the accomplishments of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign in Massachusetts, but also to recall the important steps we still need to take to … Continue reading →

If the scenario sounds like a nightmare, it’s only because it is one. Imagine you are the parent of a child with significant mental health needs. One night, your child tells you that he is hearing voices. Soon thereafter, he … Continue reading →

The New York Times recently published a disturbing article about children with significant mental health needs who were dramatically overmedicated by physicians. To be clear: the Children’s Mental Health Campaign does not support over-medicating children. No one believes the solution … Continue reading →

Compartmentalization of mental health within the medical profession and stigma related to mental illness has meant that definitions and diagnosis are often difficult to nail down. Not too long ago, mental health was thought to be inapplicable to adolescents because … Continue reading →

Last January, Massachusetts’, and the world’s, attention was drawn to South Hadley when tragic events made the issue of bullying a front page story. The legislature acted quickly, passing and enacting new legislation designed to address the issue. Earlier this … Continue reading →

This week, advocates for children with special needs were pleased that the Autism Bill looks to be on track to move toward passage before the end of the Legislative session. The bill, which will require insurance coverage for a number … Continue reading →